AMMAN (Petra) — Prime Minister Adnan Badran on Thursday handed over a Royal Decree to newly elected Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, endorsing his appointment as head of the Orthodox Church and wished him success in his endeavours.

Patriarch Theophilos was elected in August succeeding Irineos I, who was dismissed for his alleged involvement in church land sale in Jerusalem.

At yesterday's meeting, attended by Interior Minister Awni Yarvas, Badran reasserted Jordan's keenness on maintaining and enhancing religious tolerance, a policy that has projected Jordan as a model for Christian-Islamic coexistence.

Also on Thursday, Badran visited the General Federation of Jordanian Women (GFJW) and met with its president, Uns Saket, and other members.

He commended the role of GFJW and its activities, which seek to enhance the participation of Jordanian women in public life.

The premier said the government believes that civil society institutions and NGOs play an important role in alleviating poverty and unemployment through the creation of small projects.

He said it was time to change some social attitudes and what is known as the culture of shame by promoting respect for manual work.

Saket briefed the premier on the federation's programmes to empower local women, saying the GFJW supervises some 284 different projects.

Minister of Social Development Abdullah Oweidat, who accompanied the premier on his visit, said most of the projects supervised by the federation have been a success, adding that Jordanian women were capable of making the required social changes.

Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Suhair Al-Ali said the ministry works to strengthen NGOs by extending financial and technical support.

The premier and the accompanying ministers also held discussions with members of the federation's executive committee on ways to upgrade the GFJW's work and activities.